Tall Ships Return To Baltimore’s Inner Harbor This Weekend

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Tall ships sail into Baltimore’s Inner Harbor this weekend, bringing with them years of history and nautical know-how.

Gigi Barnett has the details.

The sails of Norway’s largest and oldest tall ship decorate the Inner Harbor. She’s the 100-year-old Statsraad Lemkuhl, in Baltimore this week by invitation from Sail Baltimore.

“You need a 100-year-old tall ship in a city like Baltimore. It is. It’s a perfect fit,” said Roger Mecca, Sail Baltimore.

It’s the history of the Statsraad Lemkuhl that’s expected to draw hundreds of visitors to tour the tall ship this week.

Built in Germany, she was captured by the British in World War I and bought by her namesake, a wealthy Norwegian businessman who gave it to his country’s navy as a training vessel.

“Some of the guys that are on board now, some of them are in training to become mates in the Navy and some of them have been really sea sick,” said Second Mate Siri Botnen, Statsraad Lemkuhl.

Getting to Baltimore wasn’t smooth sailing. The Statsraad Lemkuhl braved hurricane gail last month to reach the Inner Harbor from West Africa.

“The weather forecast was not predicting it. So it came by a surprise. But the ship is strong enough and the crew is strong enough to take it, so it was not really a big problem,” said Captain Jarle Flatebo, Statsraad Lemkuhl.

Now that she’s here, the 320-foot vessel is the largest to visit Baltimore this year. And when she heads back out to sea, the Statsraad Lemkuhl may have some new crew members.

“It would be nice for somebody who wants to come join us. We sail during the summer during tall ship events in northern Europe and then it’s open for whoever wants to come join us,” Botnen said.

In addition to the Statsraad Lemkuhl, two other tall ships are headed to Baltimore this weekend–one from Denmark, the other from Brazil.